The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has appointed Saba Qamar as its first National Ambassador for Child Rights in Pakistan, a distinction announced on International Day of the Girl Child — a day dedicated to empowering girls and raising awareness about the unique challenges they face worldwide.
“It’s an honour to join Unicef. I will amplify our shared mission of securing every right for every child wherever I go,” Qamar said in a press release. “During my recent travels, I witnessed both the hardships children and women endure in this country and the positive impact of Unicef’s dedicated work. I am committed to doing my part for the children and youth of Pakistan, so they can dream and have the opportunity to realize those dreams,” she added.
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As Unicef Pakistan’s National Ambassador, the Kamli and Hindi Medium star will use her platform to raise awareness about children’s rights and issues affecting youth, including child marriage, mental health, access to education, gender equality, climate change, and the impacts of violence, exploitation, and child poverty.
Pakistan has one of the highest rates of child marriage globally, with 19 million child brides, ranking sixth worldwide. More than half of adolescent girls in the country become pregnant before they turn 18, posing life-threatening risks to both mother and child.
Unicef warns that without urgent intervention, it will take decades for Pakistan to eliminate child marriage. A comprehensive, society-wide approach is necessary to end this harmful practice and safeguard future generations of girls, who represent one of the nation’s greatest untapped resources. “I’m thrilled to welcome Saba to Unicef. Ms. Qamar is a courageous and passionate advocate for the rights of women and girls,” said Abdullah Fadil, Unicef’s Representative in Pakistan, via X.
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“We’re excited to work closely with her to shine a spotlight on some of the biggest challenges facing children in Pakistan today and to intensify our efforts to help every child reach their full potential,” Fadil added. Qamar shared photos on social media on Thursday, showing her interacting with young girls in an undisclosed location.
“Met some incredible people this week and had wonderful experiences. So many stories to tell! More to come soon!” her caption read.